/m/cy_young_award

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MLB K rates are at an all time high, so it takes a little sparkle off what Chapman and Kimbrel are doing. Hitters just aren't afraid to strike out anymore and don't "shorten up" when in a 2 strike count. That said, their performances are extraordinary, but giving the Cy Young to someone who is going to throw around 60 innings is absurd. By bWAR, Chapman is 13th in the NL for pitchers and Kimbrel is 24th.

I can see why this guy is looking at relievers, since these two are having historically great seasons in the metrics he cites. The starters -- Johnny Cueto and RA Dickey aren't that exciting and Clayton Kershaw is no better than he was last year, or if he is it's not obvious. A guy looking for a new story will look at Chapman and Kimbrel.

The dupe thread is getting a lot more responses, but at the risk of killing this one I will say that hitters today aren't any better w/ 2 strikes than they were say 24 years ago: .184/.248/.266 in 1988, and .177/.244/.269. K rate with 2 strikes was about 33% then, 40% now. If they are gaining an edge by not "cutting down their swings", I don't see it-works both ways tho I don't see an advantage in the 1988 numbers either.